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Glicalzide.... what does it actually do

dwelldon

dwelldon

Well-Known Member
Messages
190
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
May seem like a silly question as I know it makes pancreas create more insulin.

But as a newbie, I am two 80mg tabs and my levels now seem to be in single figures which I am pleased about.
 
so does that eventually have a damaging effect?
 
It stimulates the pancreatic cells so they produce insulin more of less constantly, rather than just as a short term response to eating carbs.
If you take it, you need to be aware it can cause your bs to go too low.
You should regularly test, especially if you drive.
You should have been prescribed a meter by your doctor or dn when you where prescribed the tablets.
 
dwelldon said:
so does that eventually have a damaging effect?
Click to expand...

Million dollar question.
One school of thought is that you can "wear out" the insulin producing cells faster, as they are producing for longer.
It's normal to take it before a big meal, or sometimes breakfast, then the effects will wear off about 12 hours later, so you have rest from it.

My dn swopped mine for Januvia, which makes the cells produce" on demand", but for longer. Januvi is a relatively new drug, and has other possible side effects.
 
I do have the monitor, been testing regularly.

My BG was 24 when I went to see them orginally. But with it they have gone into single figures now after about 3 weeks.

I know rice and cereal seem to spike it high so I avoid them now.
 
It is possible cause you to eventually stop producing your own insulin

But in this instance it's likely you would at some point anyway just speeds it up



Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
dwelldon said:
I do have the monitor, been testing regularly.

My BG was 24 when I went to see them orginally. But with it they have gone into single figures now after about 3 weeks.

I know rice and cereal seem to spike it high so I avoid them now.
Click to expand...

If you can avoid the spikes, adjust the foods you eat, it is possible to come off the glicalzide when you can maintain a good level.
 
Yeah I have been adjusting what I eat, but it's difficult to get a balance. Especially when the NHS advice that I was given was a very poor leaflet.

Yesterday for example I had,

Plain Porridge for breakfast,

Ham Sandwich on poppy wholemeal bap, yoghurt, celery and tomatoes

Teatime I had Raviloi with spinach and sauce and two chicken drumsticks.

Which I don't think is enough calories so need to find something else to eat. Snack on nuts.
 
You need to test after each meal.
Some of us are ok with porridge, some aren't.
Likewise for the bread, burgen soya and linseed works for most though.
Same for the pasta.
I snack little and often, so keeping the load down, and on carbs I check with my meter, so I need to produce less insulin than having a big meal, and the foods I eat don't spike me.
Other eat low carbs.
As to calories, you'll notice from your weight.
If you need to increase it, eat more.
Again I will eat slightly more, or more often.
Others eat fat rather than carbs.

Personally, I would try to get my bs down by diet, with the glicalzide, to a good level, consult with the doctor about reducing the meds, and target the diet to keep it down if you can.
 
I was just short of 13 stones, but now I am around 11, so lost a few stone since last april / may time. So I need to bulk up a bit so really need the calories, its all in balance like everything.

I will get there, just will take time.

Very scary as at the minute, I am still awaiting test results from various blood tests. Say they will take 6 to 8 weeks, christ knows why. So got about 3/4 weeks left to wait.
 
It's really hard as there seems to be a lot of conflicting advice.

One thing I am struggling with is why me? I have no family history of it and my diet wasn't too bad before.
 
dwelldon said:
It's really hard as there seems to be a lot of conflicting advice.

One thing I am struggling with is why me? I have no family history of it and my diet wasn't too bad before.
Click to expand...

Everyone knows what worked/didn't work for them, and everyone's different.
Same with healthcare advice, it's good for the majority, but not the best for the individual.
You' find one that's good, hopefully, the best for you, but it'll take a few goes normally.

As to why me? I can't answer that, I do have a slight family history, but my diet, eating patterns, weight, was all rubbish.
But I have to say, I actually have a better diet, feel healthier, and am doing a lot more now than I did before I was diagnosed, so for me, it's probably more positive than negative.
 
Hi. Diabetes has so many causes and many of us, like myself, have no family history of it. I suspect also like many of us you may have been having more calories than you needed before diagnosis; we all eat too much in the West. I note that you said you needed to 'bulk-up'? I wouldn't worry about the weight loss unless you now have a BMI that is far too low or you look too thin. Not having excess weight removes fat stored around the internal organs making you much healthier and making it much easier to control your blood sugar. As others have said you may even be able to reduce the Gliclazide
 
Well I am back to the weight I was when I was in my twenties.
Although people have commented on how much thinner I look. Got to say, I do feel at times better but at the moment mentally struggling coming to terms with it. Worried about what complications could develop in the future. Being only 40 I have a long road ahead, it un-nerves you when you read about decreased life expenctancy etc.

In my mind I am looking for a cure, but I know it's not out there at the moment. Perhaps in the future.
 
Keep on top of the bs.
Keep on top of the diet.
The complications aren't guaranteed to happen.

If you get on top of it, and you've been diagnosed early, go in for all the tests and reviews regularly, you've a good chance of avoiding them all.
As to the cure, as you say, you've a lot of years left that can happen in.
 
well here's to that.

What I need to do is now go against everything I have ever been and be organised lol

Coming up with eating plan for the week/ month.

Is there any websites that give you the calory\carbs of food/supermarket food.?
 
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in November 2013 and went on to Glicalzide one tablet reducing my bs from 25 to single figures which it is now but because I was going too low I reduced tablet from 80 mg to 40 mg and now to 20 mg with the hope of controlling with diet eventually.But it is still early days as both you and I are fairly newly diagnosed.
I look for foods that I like and look at the sugar content my diet was always good I've just cut out things high in sugar,mainly choculate and cake.
 
Yeah I have been on the glic for just 3 weeks now, my average BG levels have dropped to around 6 this week which is encouraging.

What levels did you get down too?
 
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